Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Indianapolis Colts Matchup Preview (11/28/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Indianapolis Colts Matchup Preview (11/28/21)

The Colts had been the good-bad team in that they had beaten up on bad teams and lost to good teams. That is until they demolished the Bills on Sunday in a game where everything went right for them. The Buccaneers got back on track after a couple of losses with a big home win on Monday Night Football over the Giants, and they should be able to get on a roll here as they head towards another hopeful deep playoff run. Both teams have plenty at stake in this matchup, and this is one I have circled for one of the best games on this week’s slate.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Indianapolis Colts Betting Odds

The Trends

• Buccaneers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall
• Buccaneers are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games as a road favorite
• Colts are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog
• Colts are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a home underdog
• Over is 9-1 in the Buccaneers’ last 10 games after a straight up win of 14+ points
• Over is 11-1 in the Colts’ last 12 games against a team with a winning record

The Pick

Thanks to their recently subpar form, the Buccaneers get a bit of a discount in this game, and I’m backing them to get the win here. Tom Brady has demolished the Colts throughout his career, and Indy got a few lucky bounces that went a long way toward helping them last week. The Colts’ secondary is susceptible, and Brady should take advantage of some big plays. I would also take the under here as both of these defenses have been playing better football lately, and 53 points is on the higher end of totals this week.

My predictions: Buccaneers win 26-20, Buccaneers cover, under 53 points

TV Schedule

Date: Sunday, November 28
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
TV Coverage: FOX

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Indianapolis Colts Live Stream

Where can you watch Buccaneers vs. Colts online? You can stream this game and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Buccaneers vs. Colts Free Online Now.

Injuries

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Antonio Brown (ankle) Q, DT Vita Vea (knee) Q, OG Ali Marpet (oblique) Q, CB Richard Sherman (calf) IR, CB Carlton Davis (quadriceps) IR

Indianapolis Colts: OG Quenton Nelson (ankle) Q, K Rodrigo Blankenship (hip) IR

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Analysis

The Buccaneers needed a big win to get back on track on Monday night, and Tom Brady delivered another 300-yard passing performance along with a ten-yard run, his longest in quite a while. Had the Bucs been unable to win, it would have been Brady’s first three-game losing skid since 2002. Brady has thrown five interceptions in his last three games and has been uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball, but he should be able to get that in check, and he’s on pace for 46 touchdowns.

The offense benefitted from the reintroduction of a now-healthy Rob Gronkowski, and he had a big game in his return with six catches for 71 yards. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin each had six catches, and those three will be the top receivers again this week, with Antonio Brown expected to miss the game yet again. Leonard Fournette has been a very viable pass-catcher, as well, in addition to his solid presence as a runner.

Tampa could be without offensive guard Ali Marpet this week, which would be a significant absence from the interior of their offensive line. As Tristan Wirfs has elevated into one of the best offensive tackles in the league in his sophomore season, the Buccaneers have had an elite offensive line. However, matching up with DeForest Buckner and standout rookie Kwity Paye could be more difficult if Marpet could not go.

The Buccaneers’ defense hasn’t been quite as dominant as it was last year, primarily due to injuries in the secondary that have held them back. Sean Murphy-Bunting was able to return to the lineup last week, however, and Carlton Davis has been cleared to return to practice so he could be joining him. Vita Vea and Devin White are notable injuries in the front seven, but Tampa’s pass rush could create some problems for Carson Wentz, and they still have one of the better run defenses in the league to match up with Jonathan Taylor.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Depth Chart

QB: Tom Brady
RB1: Leonard Fournette
RB2: Ronald Jones II
WR1: Mike Evans
WR2: Chris Godwin
WR3: Tyler Johnson
TE1: Rob Gronkowski
TE2: Cameron Brate

Indianapolis Colts Analysis

I don’t have a name for it, but Carson Wentz is the poster child for the so-overrated-they-become-underrated phenomenon. Yeah, I know; I’m still workshopping that one. But Wentz was hailed as the next great quarterback and an MVP candidate when in Philadelphia and obviously fell flat of those expectations. However, he’s had a resurgent season in Indianapolis and deserves credit for throwing 18 touchdowns to just three interceptions this year. His play is staggering when you line it up to last year, and he’s been the efficient passer this team needs to let its run game and defense go to work.

Speaking of that run game, Jonathan Taylor is on another level right now. The Colts’ lead back is coming off a historic five-touchdown game that was the first in franchise history and went against the defense that went into that game, allowing the fewest points in the NFL. Taylor is the only player since 1950 with 1,200 yards from scrimmage in an eight-game span, and it feels like he’s just getting started as one of the best offensive weapons in the NFL. Michael Pittman Jr. has had an emergent sophomore season, but make no mistake about it; this offense is all about Taylor.

The Colts offensive line hasn’t been at the peak of its powers this year, primarily due to Quenton Nelson, arguably the best lineman in the NFL, dealing with various injuries all season. Football Outsiders still ranks the Colts as the fifth-best offensive line in run blocking and the ninth-best in pass-blocking. Veteran Eric Fisher has been an excellent addition at left tackle across from Braden Smith, who is emerging as one of the better tackles in the NFL. If Nelson can get healthy for the final stretch of the season, the Colts figure to be one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

Indianapolis’s defense was arguably the most impressive part of their dominant win over the Bills last week, as it’s no easy feat to hold Josh Allen to 209 yards passing. The defensive line has been excellent, with rookie Kwity Paye joining DeForest Buckner amidst a stable of high-level linemen. Xavier Rhodes hasn’t been consistently excellent, and the loss of Julian Blackmon is quietly a huge deal, but Darius Leonard has helped make this one of the best front sevens in the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts Depth Chart

QB: Carson Wentz
RB1: Jonathan Taylor
RB2: Nyheim Hines
WR1: Michael Pittman Jr.
WR2: T.Y. Hilton
WR3: Zach Pascal
TE1: Mo Alie-Cox
TE2: Jack Doyle

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Indianapolis Colts Daily Fantasy Picks

Tom Brady is a top quarterback option on most weeks, but this could be a ceiling game against a team with whom he has a bone to pick in the Colts. You can pair him with either Mike Evans or Chris Godwin, or if you want to load up on the Tampa offense, Rob Gronkowski is a good target for a double stack. There are better options than Carson Wentz if you’re looking to go cheaper at quarterback, and his upside isn’t the greatest, but Michael Pittman Jr. should get back on track with a big game. Finally, Jonathan Taylor’s ownership may still be low due to a perceived tough matchup against Tampa, but if he can dominate the way he did last week, he’s capable of breaking the entire slate this week.